The Indian Navy HW Torpedo

The Indian Navy HW Torpedo

     The Indian Navy not only short of Submarines, but also lacks with Torpedo's which can be fired from Submarines to hit enemy Submarines and Warships in a standoff Range, currently the ongoing P75 aka Scorpene or Kalvari Class Submarines does not have any Torpedo's once it is ready to be inducted into the Navy, earlier Indian Navy selected the Italian Torpedo company WASS to supply their modern 533mm heavy weight Torpedo's to Navy's new Submarines, the Company WASS is a sub company which is controlled and financed by the Finmeccania. the company who was caught by the CBI for alleged bribes paying to the Indian Officials,

   By the recommendation from the Armed forces and CBI, The ministry blacklisted the Finmeccania to don not participate any other defense deals, which was done by previous regime, but the Finmecannia is the trusted and important supplier to the Navy, like the Naval main gun and other systems Subsidies of the Finmeccania leads the race, the same company who short listed to supply the Torpedo's to Navy's Future submarines,

     But after the investigation CBI found  no clear evidences to the alleged bribe case, so as per the recommendation the new Government lifted the ban of Finmeccania, also the same problem was caused the Israeli supplier IAI, which is also later cleared, and Now Navy in works to WASS to seal the deal of Supply the deadly Black shark Torpedo's to Kalvari class Submarines.


1. The Black shark is the new generation heavyweight torpedo which can destroy any kind of Surface and submerged platforms at the range of some fifty kilometers gives  a decent stand off Range from Enemy Torpedo's and Depth Charges, the Torpedo is named to be most advanced for the next twenty years makes the current Torpedo decoy systems vulnerable to the Black sharks performance and precession,


2. the Black shark is a Heavyweight and house inside the 533mm torpedo tubes inside the German and Western standard submarines, with the shape and design the torpedo invisible to the Enemy detection systems, where the radiated homing beam and the propulsion system is complete modern and can bypass most advanced Detection systems currently employed by other Naval Ships and Submarines.


3. So far the company delivered only fewer numbers of  Black shark torpedo's, because of incapable platform design and European arms control treaty,


4. The Torpedo can be launched from sub surface and submerged sailings, known as Push out and swim out launch, also the Torpedo allows the launch platform to immediately vacate from the launch zone, with the use of Lithium cells for propulsion the Torpedo swim without make any noises also the contra rotating blades allows the Torpedo silent and more maneuverable during the swimming.







5. with the high speed and long range, the Torpedo can reach the target quickly and sinks the target in one shot,where the speed and exact range is highly classified.


6. The Torpedo uses two guidance system, one is wire guidance, which means the submariner keep an eye on the target allows the Torpedo hits the desired target only, makes less or zero damage to nearby Vessels, a good one used for sinking Escort warships, another one is fire and forget mode, means once the torpedo fired the torpedo itself goes to the target using the magnetic, frequency and acoustic signature of enemy vessels,


7. The torpedo has no limits of launch depths, can able to fired from any depths of submarines maximum diving range. also it not limits the Submarines performance during the Launch like Speed limit and other limits.

  

   Currently the Indian Navy's Type 209 Shishumar class submarines can able to fire AEG-SUT Mod-1 wire-guided active/passive homing torpedoes, each sub can hold fourteen such torpedo's, Indian Navy has four Shishumar class submarine, which also can able to fire Harpoon Anti ship cruise missiles from under water. the AEG-SUT Mod-1 torpedo has the range of some 30 kilometer at the speed of some 35 knots, but it's also the standard 533mm Torpedo design.

    The Navy's Kilo Sindhughosh class submarines uses the vintage Type 53 Torpedo's which is less in range speed also lacks of modern sensor and counter counter measure systems. and uses the modern TEST 71/76 anti-submarine, active-passive homing torpedo, the Kilo class submarines has six launch 533mm launch tubes, way back earlier the Sunk of Sindhurakshak caused when the sub was reloaded the TEST 71/76 Torpedo's

Scorpene is in the Sea

Scorpene is in the Sea 

A Scorpene Class SSK

Indian Model of Scorpene Submarine

      To augment its depleting conventional submarine fleet the Indian navy came up with the ambitious “ Project 75 “ which would arm the navy with six state of the art conventional attack submarines and was valued at around $4.6 billion. The government approval for construction of the six submarines was sanctioned in September 2005. The contract was signed in October 2005. DCNS was awarded the contract under which the Scorpene design was approved. French DCN and the Spanish company Navantia were to help Indian state-owned Mazagon Docks based in Mumbai manufacture these state-of the art submarines under a technology transfer agreement. The first Scorpene submarine was to be delivered to Indian Navy by 2012.

       The Scorpene submarines are a class of diesel-electric attack submarines which was jointly developed by the French DCNS and Navantia. Scorpene submarines are a 1900 tonnage submarines measuring 219 feet in length from aft to bow. The submarines can achieve a maximum speed of 20 knots. The maximum diving depth of the submarine is believed to be 300m which is one of the highest diving depths available for a conventional submarine. The Submarine will be manned by a crew   of 31 sailors and can survive in the sea without returning to its port for about for about 50 days. 

  The Scorpene has two diesel generation sets providing 1,250kW of power. The submarine is also supported by an electronic engine which produces around 2,900kW of power. To lessen the submarine's vulnerability, Scorpene can be equipped with an air independent propulsion system. Scorpene’s are to be equipped with a state of the art Air Independent propulsion system. The heat is generated by ethanol and oxygen. Combustion of ethanol and stored oxygen occur at a pressure of 60 atmospheres. This pressure-firing allows exhaust carbon dioxide to be expelled overboard at any depth without an exhaust compressor. 

    The last two of the six Scorpene submarines will be featuring an AIP system developed by DRDO. The Scorpene attack submarine can carry 18 torpedoes and missiles or 30 mines. It is equipped with six bow-located 21in torpedo tubes providing salvo launch capability. The submarine's weapons include anti-ship and anti-submarine torpedoes and anti-surface missiles. Problems with procuring the modern 533mm Black Shark torpedo's from Italy's Finmeccanica have been floating for a long time thanks to the alleged role of Finmeccanica in the Helicopter scam but the issue is to be soon sorted out. 

    The Newest Scorpenes comes with network centric attack capabilities that are connected to other Submarine Platforms. The Scorpenes are fitted with SATCOM and COMINT that can directly ping to the Navy's dedicated Satellite link through’ Rukmini ‘. This allows the Submarine to track and intercept most targets and also allows high probability of Interceptions. The Communication intelligence module allows tracking, record and monitoring of enemy activities and to share it to among other platforms on a real time basis. Scorpene submarines are believed to be one of the world's most advanced diesel electric attack submarine.

        The first Scorpene submarine built under the project was slated to be launched and inducted to the force by 2012 but has suffered a four year delay. Disclosing the long persisting problems and delays with the project the then MoD A K Antony had said “The delay in construction of Scorpene submarines is attributable to initial teething problems in absorption of new technology, delay in augmentation of industrial infrastructure at MDL and delay in procurement of items by MDL due to their high cost as compared to the earlier indicated cost.” And added “A technical data package had been provided by the collaborator (DCNS) as part of the technology transfer for the six submarines under construction at MDL. 

    This would enable attainment of significant indigenous competence in submarine construction, especially in the field of hull fabrication, outfitting, and system integration by the end of the programme". The much delayed P 75 project has received some boost with the first submarine built under the project believed to be headed out to trials. The first submarine under the project has been cherished INS Kalavari and is believed to be hitting water for the first time very soon. 

    Officials at Magazon dock and Indian Navy have confirmed the much awaited news regarding the INS Kalvari, the first Scorpene class submarine and have claimed that the submarine is slated for HATS (Harbour Acceptance Trails) very soon. The submarine is to be inducted to the force by September 2016 according to the revised schedule set in place for the project. MDL is believed to have completed the Hull fabrication of four Scorpene submarines but is taking time in fitting the subsystems. The remaining five submarines are to be handed over to the Indian navy with a time gap of nine month each. But the credibility of the project can only be ascertained after the first submarine under the project successfully completes its Sea and Harbour Acceptance Trails, integration test under which the fire systems of the vessel is tested.

  

         The Scorpene’s will be replacing the existing fleet of Type 209 and Kilo class submarines which are nearing their service life. Indian Navy has a Requirement of 6 SSN and 3 SSBN for strategic attack capability and High level deterrence against Chinese Navy. The black projects headed by the PMO have designed, developed and nearing induction with the Arihant class Nuclear-powered submarines. Chilean and Malaysian navy operates each two of them, and the Brazilian navy is to receive the Scorpene submarines.  The project once completed will boost the depleting numbers in the Indian navy and empower the navy with state of the art under water force that can challenge the advent of the hostile forces lurking right under their noses.

Malaysian Scorpene and Sea King ASW Helicopter

Rear side view of Indian Scorpene Model

The Heavyweight Black Shark 533mm Torpedo

Article By Karthik Kakoor